Humidity-governor.



G. E. KIRK.

HUMIDITY GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED MR. 6. 1912.

Patented Mar. 14,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I FIILJ q Vi/bvmooco 4 I fi/WM THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 110., WASHINGTON. D. c.

G. E. KIRK.

HUMIDITY GOVERNOR. APPLICATION FILED MARI'G, I912.

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G. E. KIRK.

HUMIDITY GOVERNOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR\61 1912.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

@M wwj G. E. KIRK.

HUMIDITY GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. e. 1912.

1,175,1 52. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

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FIG. 3

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15v VENTOR WITNESSES:

TH! COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO. WASHINGTON. L111- GEORGE E. KIRK, OF TOLEDO. OHIO.

HUMIDITY-GOVERNOR. 7

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 14, 1916 Application filed March 6, 1912. Serial No. 681,976.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. KIRK, a citizen of the United States residing at T- ledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Humidity-Governor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic controlling mechanism.

This invention has utility when embodied in connection with handling or treating material acting differently under slightchanges in moisture content, for instance the different breaks of wheat in flour manufacture.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an embodiment of the invention in connection with a sifter for flour treatment; Fig. 2 is a detailview on an enlarged scale of a portion of the controlling mechanism affected by moisture; Fig. 3 is an elevation, with parts broken away of an embodiment of the invention in connection with flour manufacture in which i the moisture content variation is used to con trol the supply to the grinding rolls, instead of to vary the speed of the sifter as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the controlling mechanism spill feature; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a driver base hav ing self contained moisture affected controlling mechanism, said base adapted to actuate a sifter, say as shown in Fig. 3, by varying the radius of gyration or shaking distanceof thesifter; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the device of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detail view, partially in section, of the actuating connections of the mechanism of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a side view of the indicator affected disks grouped; Fig. 9 is a view of the outer indicator afiected disk or lift feature, upward movement of which tends to increase sifter travel; Fig. 10 is a view of the inner indicator afiected disk, showing driver thereforand for the outer disk; Fig.

11 is a view of the trip disk; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail of the trip disk showing .a lug thereof in elevation as seen looking radially of the disk; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing handle 12 to shift by rotating the intake to the conveyer and thus change effect of angle of repose variation for different stocks: and Fig. 14 is a view hereof embodied with asifter and not having the speed variation of Fig. 1 in corporated therein. i

tion wheel 3.

v The drivingshaft 1, Fig.1, has the friction face driving pulley 2 coacting with the friction wheel 8,"slidable radially of the wheel 2 along guide 4mounted'by the collar 5 on theshaft '1. The friction wheel 3 is reciprocated by the sleeve 6 carried by the lever 7 having the fulcrum 8 in the bracket 9. The remote end of the lever 7 is connected to the hopper 10 into which the chute 11 dis charges the material to be treated.

The hopper 10 is freely mounted for reciprocation with its discharge funnel slidable in the sleeve 12 of the housing 13 of the scroll conveyer 14 driven by shaft 15 having the pulley 16 actuated by the belt 17 from shaft 18 having the small pulley 19 to cause the scroll to be driven at. a reduced speed from the pulley 20 eccentrically disposed as to shaft 1 and driven bythe fric- The pulley 20 by means of the belt 21 passing over the idlers 22 actuates the pulley 23 to rotate the gyrator crank .24 connected to thesifter 25-freely suspended for movement of gyration by the reeds 26. The, continuous flowof material from the chute 11 into the hopper 10 runs to the conveyer 14 from which it discharges through the stocking 27 into the sifter 25 for separations taken from the sifter bv the stocking 28. V

The 'reciprocable action of the hopper 10 may be adjusted by thespring 7 while the pointer 29 rocking with the lever 7 over the scale 30 indicates the moisture condition of the material.

Flour is susceptible to change in its mois} ture content due to atmospheric moisture, and this change-in the flour varies its angle of repose, and with sifter set for one condition of running. say fora dry day, then with increase in moisture, the stock loads up in the sifter and tails off high'grade product speed of pulley 20 as to pulley 2. This speeding up increases the vibrations or gymtions of the sifter 25, per minute, as also the rate of rotation of conveyer 14-, to accordingly bring about a reductionin the cumulation of stock in the hopper 10. The spring 7 may be adjusted to take care of normal load conditions in the hopper 10, while the pitch of the conveyer 1% and its feed rate is proportioned to the capacityof c the sifter 25. As so constructed the variations in atmospheric moisture, directly affecting the stock being handled, automatically act as a controller or humidity governor to increase the action upon the material a the moisture increases, and decreas the action of the treating device upon the material as the moisture content falls.

The invention as embodied in the disclosure of Fig. 3, has adjacent the indicator pointer 29 and mounted on the axis therewith to be varied as the pointer moves over the scale 30, the gate 31 in the chute 32 to the grinding rolls 33 from which the breaks pass to the chute 11 and also the hopper 34;, non-rotatable, and suspended by lever 7 mounted in the fulcrum bracket 35, connected by the link 36 to actuate the gate 31 as the hopper 3% is reciprocated by the varying load of stock therein. Carried by the brackets 37 from the hopper 34, is the housing 38 having adjustable sleeve 39 to vary the spill opening about the cone 40, engaged by the spline ll to be rotated by the shaft 42 driven by the worm wheel 43 from the worm 44 actuated by the idlers 22 driven by the belt 21 passing around the pulley 23 to operate the gyrator crank 2st of the sifter l5, freely suspended by the rods 26 for gyration. In the housing 38 is the scraper or vane 46 held with said housing 38 and hop per against rotation, so that in the rotation of the cone 40 and its platform 47, the spill of stock from the hopper 3% is scraped oil to fall into stocking 27 for elivery to the sifter 45, separation therein, and passing oif through the stockings 28. Adjustment of the spring 7 is such as to take care of the normal loading of the hopper 34, and adjustment of the sleeve 39 and the speed reduction is proportioned to take care of the capacity of the sifter 45.

As the angle of repose of the stock being treated varies, due to its change in moisture content, there is change in the quantity deposited upon the platform 47, and accordingly as this deposit is scraped oil by the vane l6, there is a variation. in the material supplied to the sifter 4:5. -l/Vith increase in moisture content of the material, the de livery is reduced with resulting accumulation in the hopper 34, which in settling down reduces the flow of material by partially closing the gate 31, by raising it to close the chute 32, or partially close said ling mechanism as above described is in each instance using the material itself, as

the factor entering intothe operation, there may be an adaptation, for instance by use-v of some other moisture susceptible factor, as a hygrometer. A self contained mechani-' cal adaptation is shown in Fig. 5 wherein the base i8 is provided with a bearing 49 for the lriving pulley 23. posed in said housing 4L8is the rack 50 held in position by the roller 51in the bracket This rack 50 is anchored in the block 53 by the bolt 5%. Rotatable in the upper part of this block 53 disposed in the bearing, -9, is the head 56 held by the bolt 55. EX- tending from this head 56 rotatable with the whey 23, is a pair of links 57, 58. T he link 58 is connected to the sifter shaft or trunnion 59. In this shaft 59 is the groove 60 engaging the rib 61 inthe frame 62 on the I upper web of the pulley 23. This frame is oval to permit radial travel of theshaft 59. The link 57 is connected to the double rack 63 having the extension 64 passing through the guide '65 in the upper side of the web l'Vith this reduction in the flow" Centrally disof the pulley 23. Meshing with the rack 36 i is a panof gears 66 coacting with the gears 67 on the arms 68 to throw the pair of weights 69 out as the shaft 59 assumes'an eccentric t"avel, theproportioning of which: weights may be such as to normally balance the sitter under load.

Mounted on the lower side of the rim of the pulley 23 is the'cam 7 O, which in'the rotation of the pulley 23 strikes the lever .71 protruding from the opening 7 in the'base- 48. This lever 71 (Fig., 7) is mounted on the shaft 73, and carries at itslower end the spring 7% normally forcing the pawl 7 5. into engagement with the ratchet wheel 7 6,1 also mounted on the shaft 73. against back action of the ratchet wheel 76 as intermittently urged forward by the pawl 75, regardless of the direction. of rotation of the wheel 23, there is provided the bracket 77 carrying the coil spring 78 normally holding the locking pawl 7 9 against the. teeth of the ratchet wheel? 6. The shaft 7 3 upon which are loosely mounted the lever 71 and the ratchet wheel 76, is mounted in the bracket 80.

The ratchet wheel 76carries annular gear 81 in meshwith which is the pinion 82 fast on the shaft 83 mounted in the bracket 84 adjacent the side of the wheel. 76 opposite As a lock the lever 71. Fast to the opposite end of the shaft 83 is the pinion 85, normally out of mesh with the annular gear 86 and toothed segment 87, either of which may be thrust the inwardly extending projections 91, force the sleeve '92 (Figs. 7, 9) away from the collar 95.,fixed on the shaft 96 to lock the disk 90 with'its connected gear 89 against rotation by engagement with the friction cone clutch 97 disposed against the bearing 98 carrying the shaft 99 splined therein, said shaft bearing being mounted in the bracket 100.

The gear segment 87 has protruding inclicator segment disk 101 of irregular form for positioning in the opening 91 with clearance between the steps thereof. The segment 87 is also provided with the central sleeve 102 forced by the springs 103 (Figs. 7, l0) coacting against the collar 95 to engage the friction cone clutch 97. In the slot 104; in the sleeve 92 is the bolt 105 engaging the sleeve 102, the bolt being approximately midway of the slot, so that as either sleeve 92 or 102 approaches its limit of movement away from the cone clutch97, the bolt picks up the other sleeve to unclutch the two indicator affected disks for simultaneous rotation.

Fitting into the openings between the steps of the opening 91 in the disk 90 and the projection 101 are the projections or lugs 106 of the trip disk 10? which has the recess 108 for the collar 95 fixed to the shaft 96. Extending away from the I'QCGSSIlOS on the opposite side of the disk 10? is the cone 109 upon which in its rotation may ride the pin 110 reciprocable in the guide 111. As the disk 107 in its rotation is thrust away from the collar 95,'the pin 110'is forced upward by the cone 109,*causing the arm 112 to swing upward upon its pivot 113 and thus pull the roller 114 off the cam 115 on the ratchet wheel 76. The recess 116 allows of the, upward swing of this tripping action,

while the guides 117 and 118, mounted on.

, tion of the pin 121, while in the openings therebet'ween extend the projections 106 of the disk'107, held therein by thespring. 125.

In operation, the hygrometer 123 has its pointer 122free to act and indicate moisture conditions upon the graduations on the member 119. At each rotation of the wheel 76, the cam 115 engages the roller 11 1, to cause the arm 112 to pull the indicator member 119 against the pin 121. The disposal of the indicator 119 is such as to cover the arc of movement of the pointer 122. The axis of'this pointer and the configurations of the indicator afl ected disksare suchthat there is proportionate movement to a mean position in regular operation, the mean position approximating vertical in Fig. 5..

.lVith the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5,the action of the cam 115 will force the pin 121 against the disk 90, causing it to slide free of the clutch 97, and then through the bolt 105- just move the inner sleeve 102 free thereof, but this inner sleeve movement is not sufficient to bring the segment 87 in mesh with the pinion 85, but is sufficient as todisk 90 to bring the gear 86 into mesh with this gearor pinion 85, as the gear 86 slides on its splines 88. The con v tinned travel of the ratchet wheel 76 causes the gear to drive the annular gear 36 and with it the gear 89 to bring about a lift movement of the rack 50 and thusincrease the radius of travel in gyration of the shaft 59 of the Sifter, as wellas simultaneously throw outward the counterbalancing flyshown in total'withdrawn'position, in nor mal operation, there would be somespread thereof, say. as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, from which normal position the action of increased moisture is shown as bringing about an increase in the action of the device upon the material treated in its continuous flow through the sifter actuated by the shaft 59. The anti-friction head of the pin 121 rides upon the face of the disk during this shifting of the shaft 59 and the weights 69. As this adjusting movement approximatesthe computed or proportionate amount according to the moisture change, capacity ofthemachine and character of the stockv being handled, the pin 121 rides up the curved shoulder of the projection 106, shown above the pointer 122 in Fig. 5( Thisaction forces the projection 106, with the plate 107 against the spring 125, causing the cone.

109 to push the slide 110 and throw the arm 112 to remove the roller 114: from'the cam" 115, thus allowing the spring 120 to withdrawn the pin 121 and reset the indicator 119. As the pin 121 rides off the disk 90,

locked position by engaging the clutch 97,

so that the shaft 59 and the fly-weights 69 are held in the adjusted position. The cam 12.5 the springs 93 at once throwthe gear 89 into in driving relation to effect normal variations of adjustment of moisture condition changes.

Should there be no change in the indication in the next time around of the cam 115, the pressing inward of the pin 121 will at once act upon projection 106 to effect tripping, the arm. 112 allowing the rol er 114 to fall and ride upon the cam 115 until the car passes, after which it falls still farther to be in the path of the cam in its next circuit. As long as there is no change in the moisture indication, these trip-offs will occur at such intervals as the speed reduction. operates to bring the cam 115 into action.

Instead of moisture indication remaining stationary, or of increasing moisture content, it may be considered as recording or indicating increased dryness, with movement of the pointer 122 downward, so that the action of the cam 115 forces the pin 121 against the face of the disk 101, which moves along the shaft 96 against the resist ance of the springs 103, and during the latter portion. of its travel, has the bolt 105 just pull the sleeve 05 the clutch 97. The disk 101, by its movement being fully unclutched, is also thrust into mesh as to its segment 87 with the pinion 85, whiie the movement of the disk 90 is insui'iicient to throw it into such meshing relation. The driving of the segmentS'? by the pinion 85 is in the opposite direction. to the action of the driving of the gear 86, and as the projecting disk face 101, as well as the bolt 105 spline the gear 86 to travel with the segment 87, there is opposite travel of the gear 89 to reduce the radius 01. vibration or gyra tion of the shaft 59 and simultaneously draw inward the fly-weights 69. In this adjusting operation, as the disks move back, the pin 12-1 rides off, as the adjustment is effected, intercepting a. projection 106 to trip. There is accordingly provided a connection controlled by the moisture to govern the treatment of material. With the device of this disclosure, it is possible to effect adjustments requiring use of considerable power, which adjustments are suggested by an instrument not supplying such power, thus allowing use of a delicate indicator of moisture, or hygrometer. V

A maximum of simplicity in control may be attained herein from. the screw conveyorfeed in which the hopper discharges thereinto in such manner as to vary supply to the conveyer as the angle of repose changes. "With the supply somewhat lateral, as shown in Fig. 2, this variation is attained, and with the conveyer speeding with the sitter for rating of common capacity of-barrels per hour, there is automatic reduction in quantity of stock delivered per rotation of the conveyor as the moisture increases, thus in suringless stock supplied to the Sifter per vibration or gyration, and accordingly providing a safeguard forproper separation action. It is thus apparent that there is humidity governing by these elements. The introduction of the speed change feature shown in Fig. 1, permits an increase in the capacity per hour of the sitter to insure the sitter taking care of its proportion of the flow in the mill, instead of allowing the accumulation to remain in a hopper 10 of suflicient capacity and be taken care of by extra running of this sitter 25 or the introduction of an additional capacity as another element for such purpos A conveyor havingits speed rate for handling 10 barrels per hour maybe connected to feed to a device for treating material, as a sitter having a capacity of 10 barrels per hour, and the delivery hopper to the conveyerbe offset sufli-- ciently so that supply of stock is reduced by the change in the angle of repose in just the same proportion as the stock in the separations ot the sitter run heavy or clog with increase'in moisture content. This delivery passage from the hopper to theconveyer is moisture varied device, andthe action of the material handling conveyor is controlled. thereby in having its handling rate per revolution reduced. With less stock per rotation of the conveyor and. accordingly less stock pergyration for the Sifter, there is accordingly a proportionate increase inthe action of the sitter upon the stock delivered thereto. To permit adjustment of the in. take to vary readily thellength of the angle of repose for handling different stocks, the intake 12 may be adjusted .by moving the handle 12 and then bolting the rotatable housing section of the scroll, or looking it by set screw in the desired adjusted position.

In the disclosure of Fig. 5, and'Fig. 6, when the fly weights 69 are in the normal dotted line running position, the connection of link .58 will extend to the shaft 59 in an eccentric position as to the pulley 28, and the connection of this link 58 to the shaft 59 maybe swiveled to permit relative rota. tion therebetween, in the-event shaft 57 is fixed a ainst rotation in the sitter.

Should the sitter be running at normal, or any treating rate for which it may be adjusted, with decrease in the moisture, the stock would be oversifted, say to run brown in separations, by allowing some of the low' grade to mingle with the higher grade product, and this by working through the sieves.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A controller comprisinga mechanism actuated by change in. the moisturecontent'. of the atmosphere, a treating device, driving means for the device, and connections to vary the action of the driving means as the mechanism changes. I

2. A sitter, atmospheric moisture operated mechanism, and connections from the mechanism to vary the action of thesifter according to the amount of moisture in the material treated.

3. A device for treating a continuous flow of material, atmospheric moisture varied mechanism, and connections from the mechanism to increase the action of the device on the material as the atmospheric moisture increases.

i. A device for treating material the flow angle of which increases with its moisture content, and mechanism connected to increase the action of the deviceupon the material as the moisture content of the material rises.

5. A device for treating material the fiow angle of which varies with its moisture content, and mechanism connected to decrease the action of the device as the moisture content falls.

6. A vibrating device for treating mate rial of variable moisture content, driving means for the device, and mechanism connected to control the means to increase the action of the device upon the material as the moisture content increases.

7. A device for effecting separation in a continuous How of material supplied thereto, and a humidity governor for the device for regulating the separation even though the moisture content of the material supplied may vary.

8. A sifter, driving means therefor, and a humidity governor embodying mechanism for varying the action of said means on the sifter.

9. A humidity governor, a flour treating device, and connections from the governor to the device for positively varying the action of the device.

10. A moisture varied device for effecting separation in material supplied thereto, and material handling connections controlled by the device for producing separations of material into grades which are uniform even though the moisture content of the material supplied may vary.

11. A device for treating a continuous stream of material the flow angle of which varies, driving mechanism for the device, and controlling means for increasing the action of the device upon the material stream as the flow angle of the material rises.

12. A device for treating material, atmospheric moisture varied mechanism for the device. and connections from the mechanism to increase the action of the device on the material as the moisture content varies, said nor to the device for increasing the effective action of the device as to the'material as the moisture taken up by the material increases.

15. A device for handling material including a receiver for the material, a supply device for the receiver disposed for angleof-repose restriction of the material discharge volume to congest the supply device, and control connections from the supply device actuable by the congestion therein.

16. A device for handling material in cluding a receiver for the material, a supply device for slant discharge of material to the receiver, varying with the angle of repose of the material, and driving means for re moving the material from'the receiver in angle-of-repose varied volume.

17. A device for handling material including a horizontally disposed scroll conveyer, driving means for the conveyer, supply means for charging the conveyerwith angle-of repose restriction of such charging for automatically varylng the conveyer delivery, and treating means for the material for which the conveyer initself regulates the material supply. 7

18. A device for handling at 'a determined rate substances susceptible to varying moisture content, a humidity governor, and connections from the governor to the device for modifying the rate of handling the substances.

19. A mechanism for supplying at a determined rate a flowing substance to be acted upon, flow rate modifying means decreasing the substance flow as its moisture content increases, and a flow rate readjusting device for the substance as to the mechanism, said device controlled by the means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. E. KIRK.

Witnesses C. H. RAUCH, 'GLADYs JAMESON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. v 

